A night of intense violence inside a prison in southwest Ecuador left at least 31 inmates dead on Sunday, according to the country’s national prisons agency, SNAI. The deadly unrest erupted before dawn in the coastal city of Machala, shocking nearby residents who reported hearing gunfire, explosions, and cries for help coming from behind the prison walls.
Authorities Confirm Deaths but Details Remain Unclear
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), SNAI said 27 prisoners died from asphyxiation and “immediate death by hanging.” The agency did not release further information about the circumstances, and officials emphasized that the exact sequence of events remains under investigation. Forensic teams were dispatched to the site to verify the causes of death and identify the victims.
Earlier in the day, authorities had confirmed four other deaths linked to the same outbreak of violence. Tactical police units were deployed shortly after riots began around 3:00 a.m., ultimately regaining control of the facility.
Injuries Reported and Motive Under Investigation
In addition to the fatalities, at least 33 inmates and one police officer were injured, SNAI reported. The agency did not indicate whether the incident was tied to ongoing disputes between rival criminal groups, though gang-related violence has become a frequent trigger for prison uprisings in Ecuador.
Officials noted that the riot appeared to have been sparked by a reorganization of prisoners following the opening of a new maximum-security facility. Such transfers often heighten tensions among incarcerated members of competing gangs.
Ecuador’s Prisons: Epicenters of Criminal Conflict
Ecuador’s penitentiary system has been at the center of regional security concerns. Prisons have become operational hubs for drug-trafficking gangs, whose violent power struggles have left more than 500 inmates dead in recent years.
A 2024 report by Insight Crime described the prison system as the “epicenter” of organized crime in the country, with criminal networks coordinating operations both inside and outside the facilities.
President Daniel Noboa’s administration has pledged to confront the crisis, repeatedly attributing the violence to powerful gangs fighting for territorial control and influence over lucrative trafficking routes.
A Pattern of Deadly Riots
Sunday’s tragedy is the latest in a series of brutal prison clashes that have shaken Ecuador:
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September 2025: A riot in the same Machala prison left 14 inmates dead and another 14 wounded, with prisoners reportedly using guns and explosives.
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Days later: Another 17 inmates died during a riot in the northern city of Esmeraldas. Authorities found decapitated bodies and shared shocking images of the aftermath.
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Since 2021: Ecuador has seen multiple prison massacres, including the country’s deadliest in Guayaquil, where more than 100 inmates were killed.
These outbreaks have left families desperate for information, often waiting for hours outside prison gates, hoping for news about their loved ones.
A Nation on the Front Lines of Global Drug Trafficking
Ecuador’s geographic position between Peru and Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producers, has turned the small nation into a major transit point for the global drug trade. Government statistics indicate that more than 70% of the world’s cocaine shipments now pass through Ecuadorian ports.
This surge in drug-related activity has fueled violence nationwide, transforming Ecuador—once considered one of the region’s safer countries—into one of Latin America’s most dangerous.
A Crisis Rooted in the Prison System
Experts warn that the ongoing wave of violence cannot be addressed without significant reform inside Ecuador’s prisons. Insight Crime notes that the foundations of the crisis are deeply tied to the criminal structures that have evolved within the penitentiary system, where gangs wield enormous influence.
As investigations continue into the deadly Machala riot, Ecuador faces mounting pressure to restore control over its prisons and curb a crisis that has already claimed hundreds of lives.
